As the first few weeks of class have gone by, chances are you have ridden a bus somewhere on campus – or at the very least walked by them as you huff your way to class.

I’m sure at times you have cursed the bus drivers for nearly hitting your car, nearly hitting you, not showing up when you wanted them to or showing up, but only to park at the library for 10 minutes. Don’t worry, we have cursed you too for various reasons.

So to end this feud/misunderstanding peaceably I offer up these suggestions/ways to not get killed by a bus:

1. Don’t stand so close to the curb. A bus’s front tires are almost five feet behind the front bumper, creating the ability to “overhang” curbs to allow the bus to get into tight spots. To get a bus straight in a bus bay, the driver must swing the front bumper at least three feet over the edge of the curb to get the back of the bus out of the road way.

If you are closer than two or three feet from the curb when a bus comes to the stop, you’re setting yourself up to become a speed bump.

2. Sidewalks: use them. Don’t just stroll up and down the street.

3. Crosswalks: use them. Buses don’t stop very quickly, and you don’t get free tuition if you get hit by a bus. In fact, you will probably get a jaywalking ticket.

4. Traffic laws: obey them. Never try to pass a bus if you have to cross a double yellow line – besides the fact it’s illegal, it’s dangerous. I can’t count how many times I have seen a pedestrian nearly get killed because of cars zipping around a bus.

5. While driving a car on campus, try to stop behind the big white line on the road – it’s called a stop bar – and not at the crosswalk. This will make it less scary for you when a bus comes hurtling toward you. Still, sometimes a bus driver might need you to back up before the stop bar to be able to make a turn. Athens has painfully narrow streets for buses to go down, and a little help would be much appreciated

6. Proper bus loading. The reason buses often get off schedule is because drivers have to spend far too long at each stop trying to load passengers. Before you even try to get on the bus, let everyone else off – there isn’t much room for two-way traffic.

Once you’re on the bus, sit down as quickly as possible – if possible. Drivers try not to start moving if people are walking around, but if you got in by the front doors and then walk to the back, passing empty seats along the way, you’re testing our patience.

And when there aren’t any seats available, go to the middle or back of the bus first and grab a handrail – this prevents a huge empty pocket from forming in the middle of the bus.

7. Scooters and bicycles: do you have a death wish? Obey all the traffic laws cars have to obey, such as observing one-way streets and passing legally.

8. Bus drivers live by one mantra – “You run, you ride, you walk, you wait.” I’m not a taxi. Waving will not get you a ride on a bus if you appear able-bodied. If you aren’t on the bus when the doors close and has started moving, you’re out of luck.

9. Plan ahead. Look at route maps or visit our Web site at www.transit.uga.edu. Orbit isn’t the only bus that takes you where you need to go. Having to answer an occasional question is fine, but make sure you ask one worthy of being answered.

“Do you know where this bus goes?”

“Not a clue, I just drive it.”

10. Lastly, try remain alert to your surroundings. I know this is hard when you are talking on the phone, texting, reading a book and listening to your iPod all at once.

Honestly, every bus driver’s worst nightmare is to kill or seriously injure someone.

At Campus Transit, we take pride in how few accidents we do have, and how many we prevent, but we have way too many close calls daily. With a little help from all of you, we can keep you safer and provide better bus service.

- Matt Reynolds is a senior from Conyers majoring in science education. He is also a bus operator for Campus Transit.